PLANNING COMMISSION Meetings are held at the Town Office on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 7 PM

Newfane Planning Commission, April 5, 2005, 7:00 p.m. Meeting called to order by Chairman J. Feifel, 7:05 pm Present: T. Bedell, J. Borta, D. Clarkson, J. Feifel, G. Garbe, K. Robinson, J. Spencer Minutes of March 15, 2005 approved. (7-0) Calendar: April 19, 2005, 7:00 p.m. - Regular meeting April 26, 2005 7:00 p.m. – Regular meeting (as per new schedule--see below) Organizational meeting: J. Feifel opened the floor for nominations for chair, excusing himself from consideration. G. Garbe nominated D. Clarkson, who declined. Tom Bedell nominated Jim Spencer, D. Clarkson seconds. Spencer chosen by acclamation. Chairman J. Spencer opened floor for nominations for vice-chair. G. Garbe nominated D. Clarkson, T. Bedell seconds. Clarkson chosen by acclamation. Floor opened for nominations for secretary. G. Garbe nominated T. Bedell, J. Feifel seconds. Bedell chosen by acclamation. New slate: Jim Spencer, Chairman David Clarkson, Vice-Chairman Tom Bedell, Secretary Members agree to change meetings to second and fourth Tuesday of each month, beginning with April 26 meeting. (Consequently, meetings will be held on consecutive Tuesdays on April 19 and April 26. Thereafter, each second and fourth Tuesday.) Time will remain at 7 pm. Regular meeting: CDs were distributed with Newfane Town Plan in Microsoft Word, as well as statistics in Excel. (Jim Spencer also had a few discs with some abutting towns’ Town Plans.) A general discussion ensued about the revising and editing to be done, and the pace at which to proceed. D. Clarkson mentioned a discussion he had had with Jim Matteau, the executive director of the Windham Regional Commission, who pointed out how Newfane was out of the running for grants because the most recent version of the plan had been rejected. He suggested that if we submitted a suitable plan this year that we should be in the running for the grants generated from land transfer taxes. D. Clarkson suggested this could be about $6,000, and clearly we’d be better off to get the funds sooner rather than later. J. Borta then suggested the Commission do just that—update the statistic data as needed, make the editing revisions, include mandated changes and submit the plan. The members were in general agreement that the plan had already been worked on enough that a good and suitable plan could be submitted, with tougher issues and more detailed work somewhat deferred for the next revision. Jim Spencer asked for (and received) a sense of the commission that it dedicate itself to submitting a plan to the Selectboard no later than September 1, sooner if possible. K. Robinson also asked for (and received) a sense of the Commission that it would then commence immediately upon the next revision. Ways to accomplish all this were discussed, and a division of labor at upcoming meetings was decided upon: G. Garbe and T. Bedell working on text revisions, J. Borta working on statistical information, other members investigating adjacent towns’ Plans. Other business: Warnings of upcoming meetings to include agenda. Reformer must also be made aware of changes to second and fourth Tuesday. Posting on Town website as well. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. Tom Bedell Secretary   Agenda for next meeting, Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - 7 pm Meeting may include a visit from Jim Matteau, the executive director of the Windham Regional Commission. 1) Simultaneous work sessions on statistics, text revision, review of adjacent town plans 2) To consider any business that may come before the Planning Commission

Town Offices: Route 30, P.O. Box 36, Newfane VT 05345, Tel. (802) 365-7772 Please send all comments, suggestions and questions to info@newfanevt.com